This 2010 Cubs season has been beyond disappointing for a myriad of reasons, but mainly because of how truly awful this team has been. Among the disappointments has been the final Cubs season of Derrek Lee. Lee has struggled mightily this year, but has rebounded a little since the All Star Break. DLee has been one of my favorite Cubs ever since Hendry acquired him from Florida for Hee-Seop Choi prior to the 2004 season. The Lee trade is still one of Hendry's best deals as GM of this sinking franchise.

Derrek's Cub tenure has been full of ups and downs. He was solid in 2004, hitting .278 with 32 home runs, but truly shined in 2005 when he led the NL in nine offensive categories and should have won the MVP (Sorry, Albert, I know you had a good year and the Cards went to the playoffs, but Derrek Lee was fucking unreal that year. On a contending team or no, Lee got jobbed in 2005). Derrek hit .335 and won the NL batting title.

2006 would prove to be tough for the big man, as Rafael Furcal collided with Lee following an awkward throw to first base by mouthbreather Scott Eyre. Lee wound up with a broken wrist and ended up missing most of the season. Things didn't get better after he returned from the DL and he ended up with inflammation in the wrist and had to go back on the DL. Worst of all, Derrek's daughter Jada was diagnosed with Leber's congenital amaurosis, an eye disorder. The Lees later learned that she doesn't in fact have the disorder, but I remember how devastated Derrek was when he appeared on TV back in 2006.

DLee didn't seem to fully recover from the wrist injury until 2008, when he hit .306, slugging 35 homers and driving in 111 runs. Unfortunately, his skills seem to have been in decline ever since and he never was able to push the Cubs past the first round of the playoffs. At least he has his 2003 Marlins WS ring.

Derrek's Cub career came to a bitter end yesterday as he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for three stiffs in a payroll dump. I can't blame him for leaving. This team is fucking terrible, possibly the most exciting event of the season occurring when Derrek and Carlos Zambrano argued in the dugout. I know Derrek's skills are in decline and that he was unlikely to return next year, but I still hate to see him leave.

DLee was a class act and in a sport dealing with little bitches like Hanley Ramirez, Brandon Phillips, Francisco Rodriguez, Zambrano, and others this year, his presence will be missed in Chicago. For a while, the Cubs were his team. It's going to feel very strange to see Derrek in a Braves uniform in the other dugout at Wrigley Field this weekend. I know he was only a Cub for six years, but it seriously felt longer than that. Not long enough, though.

(I still hate this team.)